Olivier History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

• Origins Available:
• England
• Italy
• Scotland

Etymology of Olivier

The distinguished surname Olivier can be traced back to the ancient and beautiful region of Venice. Although people were originally known only by a single name, it became necessary for people to adopt a second name to identify themselves as populations grew and travel became more frequent. The process of adopting fixed hereditary surnames was not complete until the modern era, but the use of hereditary family names in Italy began in the 10th and 11th centuries. Italian hereditary surnames were developed according to fairly general principles and they were characterized by a profusion of derivatives coined from given names. The most common type of family name found in the region of Venice is the patronymic surname, which is derived from the father's given name. During the Middle Ages, Italians adopted the patronymic system of name-making because it perfectly complemented the prevailing Feudal System. In Italy the popularity of patronymic type of surname is also due to the fact that during the Christian era, people often named their children after saints and biblical figures. The surname Olivier came from the given name Olivero, which is further derived from the Latin words olivarius and olivo, which mean olive.

Early Origins of the Olivier family

Early History of the Olivier family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Olivier research. The years 1500, 1544, 1675, 1686 and 1819 are included under the topic Early Olivier History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Olivier Spelling Variations

In comparison with other European surnames, Italian surnames have a surprising number of forms. They reflect the regional variations and the many dialects of the Italian language, each with its own distinctive features. For example, in Northern Italy the typical Italian surname suffix is "i", whereas in Southern Italy it is "o". Additionally, spelling changes frequently occurred because medieval scribes and church officials often spelled names as they sounded rather than according to any specific spelling rules. The spelling variations in the name Olivier include Olivieri, Oliviero, Olivier, Oliveri, Olivero, Oliverio, Oliver, Ulivieri, Livieri, Liviero, Liverani, Vieri, Viero, Vier, Vierin and many more.

Early Notables of the Olivier family

Prominent among members of the family was

• individuals of the Olivieri family in Venice were of noble status in Oderzo from the 16th century, but this title was not official in Venice until 1819

Olivier World Ranking

In the United States, the name Olivier is the 7,186^th most popular surname with an estimated 4,974 people with that name. 1 However, in Quebec, Canada, the name Olivier is ranked the 768^th most popular surname. 2 And in France, the name Olivier is the 101^st popular surname with an estimated 28,784 people with that name. 3 South Africa ranks Olivier as 141^st with 41,906 people. 4